American skimmer, Razor-billed shearwater, Scissorbill
English:
The black skimmer (Rynchops niger ) is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar birds species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.
Black skimmers are large tern-like seabirds that can be found in the Americas. Adults in breeding plumage have a black crown, nape and upper body. The forehead and underparts are white. The upper wings are black with white on the rear edge, and the tail and rump are dark grey with white edges. Non-breeding adults have paler and browner upperparts, and a white nape collar. Immature birds have brown upperparts with white feather tips and fringes. The underparts and forehead are white, and the underwings as the adult.
Black skimmers breed in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts. Black skimmers inhabit coastal marshes, sandy shores and islands, shallow bays, estuaries, lagoons, creeks, inlets, and rivers.
Black skimmers spend much time loafing gregariously on sandbars in the rivers, coasts, and lagoons they frequent. The birds communicate with each other through displays and vocally; their typical call is a barking 'kak-kak-kak'. Black skimmers have a light graceful flight, with steady beats of their long wings. They feed usually in large flocks, flying low over the water surface with the lower mandible skimming the water (in order of importance) for small fish and other prey caught by touch. They forage by night but are also active during the day. Black skimmers clean themselves often spending a lot of time bathing in freshwater and preening. When sleeping in a flock, they remain standing and tuck their heads into the wing.
Black skimmers are carnivores (piscivores). Their diet includes small fish, insects, crustaceans and mollusks.
Black skimmers are monogamous; they form pairs and males aggressively protect their mates. They breed in loose groups on sandbanks and sandy beaches. The female lays 3 to 7 heavily dark-blotched buff or bluish eggs and both parents incubate them for 21-23 days. The chicks leave the nest as soon as they hatch and lie inconspicuously in the nest depression or "scrape" where they are shaded from high temperatures by the parents. They may dig their own depressions in the sand at times. The young fledge at 23-25 days after hatching but start flying at 6 weeks of age.
The main threats to Black skimmers include habitat loss, human disturbances, pesticides, and oil pollution. Storms also destroy nests and swamp newly hatched chicks.
According to the What Bird resource, the total population size of the Black skimmer is around 200,000 individuals. According to the All About Birds resource the total North American population size of this species is 65,000-70,000 breeding birds. Overall, currently, Black skimmers are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but their numbers today are decreasing.